What should I do if I hold a DTV visa but haven't been in Thailand for a while and don't have 500,000 baht in my bank account?

You don't need to cancel anything and you don't need 500k in the bank to use your DTV again.

*500k is only for application, not for every entry.*

Once DTV is issued, no embassy or border checks your bank balance again on re-entry - that check is done. I have not seen any case where BKK/DMK asked a returning DTV holder for bank proof after 1 year away. They just scan passport, see valid DTV till , stamp 180 days.

*Can you enter on tourist exemption instead to avoid using DTV?*

Technically no choice at border - if you have a valid DTV in system, immigration will use it automatically. You can't say "please give me 60 day tourist instead of my 5 year DTV". The system defaults to your long-term visa.

But that's actually better for you:

- DTV stamp = 180 days, no extension needed for 4 week trip

- Tourist exemption = 60 days max from Sept 2025

- No TM30 or extra hassle for DTV, just same as tourist

*You only have a problem if:*

- DTV is revoked - which doesn't happen for low bank balance

- You overstayed last time - then you might get pulled

So just fly in with DTV eVisa PDF on phone, do TDAC, enter. No need to show any bank statement.

If you really want to enter as pure tourist, you'd need to formally cancel DTV at Thai embassy before travel - which makes zero sense for a 4 week trip.

Your DTV is still your best ticket even for short visit.

You could consider reading a book or two before your trip. I’d recommend Unlock Thailand by Isla Rey on Amazon, it includes all the info and insights you need. You should check it out. A very good companion 👌.

Your DTV gets cancelled if you enter on visa exemption. Good luck.

They don't check your bank balance when entering. That is for applying for the visa. You don't need to hold 500k for 5 years.

Enter with your DTV and leave whenever you want within 180 days

I think you should be ok if you still meet the other requirements such as working online or enrolled in soft power activities. I saw someone posted in this group recently that they were denied entry for not having 500k savings but I think the main reason for denial in that case was that they were no longer enrolled in any class after the initial one finished.

There is no official requirement to hold 500k throughout the length of the visa although immigration officers are free to ask whatever they want. I haven't seen any case of someone denied entry solely for not having 500k in savings while meeting the other requirements (ongoing online work, enrolled in class, medical appointment booked, etc).

If you no longer meet the requirements or don't want to book more soft power activities then you can consider cancelling the visa if you are able to. I think the ability to cancel it depends on the embassy that issued it.

I’ve been through 10x plus never been asked a question

It’s worse than that: you have NO OTHER OPTION than hoping you won’t get pulled aside, or avoid entering Thailand altogether until it expires!

DTV is extremely hard to get rid of as my very own example shows: I quit my remote job, got married to a Thai, tried to get it converted to Non-O in country - no luck with three different offices. Tried to get it cancelled from outside the country - the embassy refused, MFA refused, all agents told me the same: “mai dai”.

Despite all the people here yapping “get a proper visa!!” - it’s often impossible- once you get the DTV you’re stuck with it.

Probably best to just enter on the 30 day visa on arrival if haven’t got the 500k could get denied entry

You can just hope they will not pull you aside

According to the DTV... you only need to prove the money before you get the visa.

Enter on your DTV.